============================================= || || 18th October 2015 || || News of Lincolnshire Wildlife || LNU Website: || http://www.lnu.org/ || ============================================ In this issue..... 1. Readers hints, tips and requests 2. Wildlife Highlights 3. Wildlife reports from around the county 4. News from the Lincolnshire Coast 5. News from Far Ings NNR 6. News from Bardney Limewoods NNR 7. Sending in Reports - contributors please read! 8. Contact information 9. Notes about these wildlife reports 10. Bulletin publicity policy 11. Events Diary 12. ...and finally..... ============================================ The Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Bulletin is being read by 1100 people and we are keen to encourage even more readers to subscribe. If you know someone who would like to receive the Bulletin please send them this webpage link so they can sign up for it: http://www.lnu.org/wildnews.php Text versions of past LNU Wildnews Bulletins are available on: http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html Note: Each address contains the relevant date. Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union or any associated organisations. Reports here are open and are available to county recorders of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union and Lincolnshire Bird Club. Please contact the Editor to contribute articles or reports. E-mail: rparsons@enterprise.net [A backup e-mail address you can use if ever you experience problems with my "Enterprise" address is: aintree2@yahoo.co.uk ] ============================================ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. Readers hints, tips and requests ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** From the Editor.... *** If you know someone who might find the LNU Bulletin useful, please send them this link and suggest they sign up for it: http://www.lnu.org/wildnews.php The "Beast from the East"? There is speculation of an early burst of snow at the end of October. 'The start of a bitter winter,' says the Express. For a reliable comment, see: http://www.theweatheroutlook.com/twoother/twocontent.aspx?type=hpnews&id=2905&title=Big+freeze+part+X%3f I was delighted to have some news of this year's second swallow brood. A youngster ringed here on 22/06/2015 was trapped at Thornham, Norfolk on 01/09/2015. Maybe here?: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/125182 It should be somewhere warmer by now. For 'swallow migration' see: http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/s/swallow/migration.aspx On 15th October, Rob Lidstone-Scott wrote: 'Donna Nook - no seals to report in the viewing area.' The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust has helpful information and regular seal updates on their Donna Nook webpage. See: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/donna-nook Guidelines for visitors: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/nature-reserves/donna-nook/viewing-seals-donna-nook How many of you read the excellent magazine "Planet Earth" produced by NERC? [The Natural Environment Research Council] Planet Earth is a FREE magazine aimed at non-specialists and members of the public with an interest in environmental science. See: http://planetearth.nerc.ac.uk/index.aspx You can subscribe for a paper version if you live in the UK, or view the electronic version if you live elsewhere. http://www.nerc.ac.uk/latest/publications/planetearth/ I have just received my copies of Paul Money's helpful guide to the astronomical year ahead: 'Night Scenes 2016'. You may order yours via his website "Astrospace" shop page. http://www.astrospace.co.uk/ Looking in 'Night Scenes 2015' I see we should be watching for the Orionid meteor showers peaking on 21st October. There is also a possibility of a Taurid "swarm", October into November. Keep a dawn look out for Venus, Mars and Jupiter, and Mercury if you are clever! See: http://earthsky.org/?p=2147 Thanks for the many interesting contributions this week. Great. Roger p.s. Don't forget: 12. ...and finally... links to local, national and international stories, most with an environmental/wildlife spin. Your suggestions for interesting links are always very welcome. *** LNU Events - full list in section 11 below - guests welcome *** To check on the details, especially if weather suggests a possible cancellation, visit: http://lnu.org/events.php Unless otherwise stated, Indoor Meetings are held on Saturdays at the Whisby Education Centre, Whisby Nature Park, Moor Lane, Thorpe on the Hill, Lincoln and start at 2pm. 2015 Indoor meetings - details awaited. *** Diseases of Elder? *** TATTERSHALL THORPE 02.10.15 M & R POCKLINGTON We have noticed that something seems to be affecting the elderberry bushes on our morning walk and several look dead now. Whatever it is seems to affect young and old multi- stemmed bushes and there is no fruit this year. The bushes did flower in the spring but not as profusely as usual and started to deteriorate quickly. Can anyone let us know what causes this? *** Joint BTO and Lincolnshire Bird Club Conference *** 'Monitoring Birds' Whisby Education Centre, Whisby Nature Park LN6 9BW Saturday 28th November 2015 From 9.30 - 15.15 Conference Fee: £14 Includes coffee, tea and lunch Everyone is Welcome! More details at http://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=23067 Download booking form at http://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk/information/Booking_Form_Conf_2015.doc *** Waxcaps and Wood-pasture: Identification & Diversity *** South Yorkshire Biodiversity Research Group (Econet), 15th & 29th October 2015 29th October – Waxcaps & Wood-pasture in the Upper Derwent Cost: BES Members: £30 per day; Non-BES Members: £60 per day. Places limited, pre-booking essential Limited Student / Volunteer places are available at £20 per day – please enquire before booking. http://www.ukeconet.org email contact: info@hallamec.plus.uk *** Barton LWT *** Adrian White writes: Saturday 17th October Spurn Point A full-day trip to this migration hot-spot Meet at Ness End Farm for a 9am start Contact Adrian White (01724 732152) for details Everyone welcome Barton Area Group of the LWT is now on Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/LWT.Barton.Group *** Louth Area Group LWT *** Ray Woodcock writes: Information Coffee Morning Saturday 17th October at 12 noon. ConocoPhillips Room, Louth Library An opportunity to learn how the local wildlife sites are maintained. Volunteers from Donna Nook, Red Hill, Toby's Hill and our woodland sites have agreed to come along. Raffle. Purchase wildlife publications, Christmas Cards and gifts. Examine wild flower seeds look under a microscope. Bring your seashells for identification. Admission, including refreshments: £1.50 - no charge for children. We do need Raffle prizes and a few helpers on the day. Please let LAG Chairman, Ray Woodcock, know if you can contribute. lag2104rww@aol.com *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Events 2015 *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/whats-on *** Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch *** http://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html *** Lincoln RSPB *** http://www.lincolnrspb.org.uk/ *** South Lincs RSPB *** http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire *** Find the Grid Reference - always useful *** Chris Manning recommended the following websites to help find grid references. Grab a Grid Reference http://www.bnhs.co.uk/focuson/grabagridref/html/index.htm UK Grid Reference Finder: http://www.gridreferencefinder.com/ [Don't forget to scroll down to "And finally ....."] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2. Wildlife Highlights ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Bird News from Rare Bird Alert *** Rare Bird Alert has kindly given permission to reproduce reports. A big thank you from us all. Interested readers should have a look at the RBA website: http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/ 8/10 Yellow-browed Warbler, Ring Ouzel, Sea View, saltfleetby 4 Yellow-browed Warbler, Tree Pipit, Short-eared Owl, Ring Ouzel, Gibraltar Point Yellow-browed Warbler, 3 Ring Ouzels, Donna Nook Spotted Redshank, Frampton Marsh 9/10 Osprey over Lowfield Lane, Belchford Yellow-browed Warbler, Donna Nook Yellow-browed Warbler trapped and ringed, Dunsby sewage works Yellow-browed Warbler, Gibraltar Point 10/10 Little Stint, Frampton Marsh Little Bunting trapped and ringed, then flew to hedge opposite beach car park, Gibraltar Point 2 Lapland Buntings, Ring Ouzel, Yellow-browed Warbler at Syke's Farm, Gibraltar Point 2 Yellow-browed Warblers, off Louth road in Woodland cemetery, Grimsby Yellow-browed Warbler in Gooseman's Fields, Weelsby, Grimsby Snow Bunting on shore, male Hen Harrier flow over hotel Pit, Far Ings Yellow-browed Warbler, Ring Ouzel, Donna Nook 2 Ring Ouzels north of Sunnyvale caravan site, Saltfleet 11/10 8-10 Snow Bunting on foreshore, Far Ings Yellow-browed Warbler, Redstart, Sea view Farm, Saltfleetby Richard's Pipit flew over access track, 3 Yellow-browed Warblers, 26 Ring Ouzels, Black Redstart, Redstart, Great Grey Shrike, Tree Pipit, Spotted Redshank, Rustic Bunting, Firecrest, Pomarine Skua past, Sooty Shearwater, Great Northern Diver, 1000+ Gold- crests, possible Ehrenberg's Redstart m form samamisicus Gibraltar Point Yellow-browed Warbler, Little Bunting, m Black Redstart, Donna Nook Little Stint, Frampton Marsh 2 Yellow-browed Warblers, Woodlark flew over, possible Siberian Whitethroat - form blythi, Donna Nook 12/10 Siberian Chiffchaff, Yellow-browed Warbler, Ring Ouzels, Firecrest, Donna Nook Pallas's Warbler, Sea Lane, Yellow-browed Warbler side of New Inn caravan park, Saltfleet Yellow-browed Warbler, Firecrest, Sea View farm, Saltfleetby Bittern in main reedbed, Boultham Mere Eurasian White-fronted Goose, Twite, in field by double reservoirs south of Scampton Lapland Bunting, 3 Yellow-browed Warblers, Redstart, Black Redstart, Firecrest, Hawfinch flew south, Great Grey Shrike at end of east dunes, Richard's Pipit, Gibraltar Point Snow Bunting on Chowder car [park], Far Ings 2 Hen Harriers, Frampton Marsh 13/10 Sabine's Gull, south past Crook Bank, 3 Pomarine skuas flew south, Saltfleetby Sabine's Gull flew past, Manx Shearwater, Freiston Shore Short-eared Owl, 2 Ring Ouzels, Donna Nook 2 Whooper Swans in brassica field, Church Lane, saltfleet 14/10 Dusky Warbler near East Dunes, Firecrest, Great Grey Shrike in ringing hollow, 2000 Goldcrests, Gibraltar Point Corncrake, 2 Slavonian Grebes, Yellow-browed Warbler between car parks, Freiston Short Yellow-browed Warbler, Mill Lane, then flew south, Scamblesby Snow Bunting, Chowder car park bank, Far Ings Great White Egret at pond, Hallington, Louth Yellow-browed Warbler between Stonebridge and Pye's Hall, Lapland Bunting, 4 Ring Ouzels, Donna Nook Garganey juv, Marston sewage works 4 probable Gannets flew NE over Scopwick towards Navenby 15/10 Yellow-browed Warbler between Pye's Hall and seal colony, 2 Ring Ouzels in South Dunes, Donna Nook 2 Great Grey Shrikes, Yellow-browed Warbler, Redstart, Twite, Dusky Warbler near East Dunes, Gibraltar Point 2 Yellow-browed Warblers, Sea view Farm, saltfleetby slavonian Grebe, Freiston Short Great White Egrat flew from saltfleet St Clements towards Theddlethorpe Garganey juv, Marston sewage works Note: I am adapting my RBA pager information for the Bulletin by eliminating or summarising/consolidating repeated messages. When there is a lot of information I will stick to highlights. Please visit the RBA website for updates or fuller details. Bird Alert website: Here you can register free to use the site and get free trials of their subscription services. Strongly recommended. [Please mention the Bulletin if you decide to subscribe.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3. Wildlife news from around the county ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** The Roger Goy Column *** Remembering Roger Goy's wildlife information work. ROADKILLS - don't forget your name and date! YAWTHORPE SK 89779 90785 Peter Morrell 10.10.15 Barn owl road kill on A631. SCOTHERN WOOD CORNER SK 8602 9785 Peter Morrell 11.10.15 Hedgehog road kill on A159. SCUNTHORPE SE 8856 1125 Peter Morrell 11.10.15 Hedgehog road kill on Doncaster Road. GAINSBOROUGH SK 8180 9130 Peter Morrell 13.10.15 Hedgehog road kill The Belt. COLSTERWORTH SK 9457 2388 Peter Morrell 15.10.15 Badger road kill on A151. *** County Wildlife Reports From Readers *** Please keep your reports coming. We rely on you to send in your observations and we welcome information from ALL readers, be they beginners or experts. Thanks. DON'T FORGET Please include the year in your reports in case they are copied and thus lose their context. BEELSBY east of. TA 219024 Peter Crick 11.10.2015 Grey Partridge X 3 CAISTOR Week beginning 8.10.15 Wendy Handford Brigg Road wildlife garden TA 111 026 Feral cat alongside hedge 14.10.15 Fox running in mixed wood 8.10.15 Trailcam Great spotted woodpecker on Pear 12.10.15 Jays 2 under Beech 11.10.15 Red-legged partridges in meadow 12.10.15 Tawny owl in coniferous wood 10.10.15 Caddis fly on window 12.10.15 Fungi this week Candlesnuff 100s on Goat willow chippings Fly agaric 2 under Silver birch King Alfred’s cakes 10s on fallen Ash Hundon Farm ponds TA 112 026 Mute swan cygnets, 4, now with adult plumage Ben Jacob Nettleton Lodge Game Farm TA 090 012 False puffball, Reticularis lycoperdon, possibly DEEPINGS Venue: Deeping Lakes LWT Reserve Date: 15th October 12015 Time: 0930 - 1130 Observer: Ian Gordon Weather: Cold, cloudy, persistent showers Birds: Blackbird Blackcap Black-headed Gull Blue Tit Canada Goose Chaffinch Greylag Goose Carrion Crow Coot Cormorant Gadwall Goldfinch Great Crested Grebe Great Tit Green Woodpecker Jackdaw Jay Lapwing Little Egret Little Grebe Long-tailed Tit Magpie Mallard Moorhen Mute Swan Pheasant Reed Bunting Robin Rook Shovelor Teal Tufted Duck Wigeon Mammals: Grey Squirrel EAST HALTON East Halton Skitter (Grid Ref TA1423)* 10/10/2015 Jon Drakes Bird species noted during an overcast, cool and breezy (Easterly) afternoon walk that co-incided with high tide were as follows: Carrion Crow present in fields adjacent to the sea bank in large numbers Curlew 14 Greylag Goose 10 Kestrel 2 Little Egret 1 Mallard 6 Marsh Harrier 1 Pied Wagtail 1 Redshank 10 Rook present in the fields adjacent to the sea bank in large numbers Snipe 6 Starling 50 Turnstone 25 Woodpigeon present in the area in large numbers HUMBERSTONE South Sea Lane TA 320051 Peter Crick 08.10.2015 Small Tortoiseshell Several Common Darter Yellowhammer - 1 male 3 females HUTTOFT Jane Pennington TF512763 (my garden) Date 9/10/15 Harlequin ladybird 1 Peacock butterfly 1 Speckled wood 1 Date 11/10/2015 Ladybird 1 Date 12/10/2015 Dunnock 1 Great spotted woodpecker 1 Ladybird 1 Robin 1 Wren 1 13/10/2015 Pied wagtails 4 (farmer next to my garden had just sown seed - never seen them here before) Sparrowhawk 1 (flew through the garden and into a tree at the bottom of the garden. Seemed to be carrying something large. I think it might have been a wood pigeon because for the last 3 weeks, I have seen 4 piles of pigeon feathers in my boundary ditch. I wondered what was killing them) Date 15/10/2015 Blackbirds 6 Blue tits 2 Field mouse 1 (several times on the terrace) Great tit 1 Starlings 4 KEELBY (Grid Ref TA1610) 11/10/2015 Jon Drakes A walk around the fields and woodland to the North of Keelby on a bright, sunny, Sunday morning produced the following sightings: Blackbird 3 Black-Headed Gull Carrion Crow Chaffinch 2 Collared Dove 7 Goldfinch 10 Great Tit 2 Greenfinch 2 House Sparrow 40 Jackdaw 2 Magpie 5 Robin 1 Rook 20 Starling 30 Woodpigeon Red Admiral LAMBCROFT FARM north of. TF 242936 Peter Crick 11.10.2015 Grey Partridge 1 NEW WALTHAM TA 287046 Garden sightings Peter Crick 11.10.2015 Buzzards x 7 together. Extremely high, slowly moving east on a brisk easterly wind. RAITHBY-CUM-MALTBY, rural garden near LOUTH TF309847 (unless otherwise stated) Silvia Fowler 09.10.2015 Brimstone x 2, Small Tortoiseshell x 4 Harlequin Ladybird (succinea type) on bedroom window 11.10.2015 Small Tortoiseshell x 2 Green Shieldbug Wasp queen attempting to hibernate in long pond glove – evicted Buzzard x 2 14.10.2015 Mistle Thrush noisily defending berries in yew tree. 15.10.2015 Gulls are returning to feed on pasture, now that cattle have been removed. Common Gull x 4, Black-headed Gull x 6 among assorted jackdaws and rooks. 1 leucistic Rook (not very extensive, just a few white patches). SANDILANDS Ian Whitaker 8/10/2015 Comma [in garden] 9/10/2015 Red Admiral Hummingbird Hawkmoth on Michaelmas Daisies in garden TETNEY North end. TA 308022 Peter Crick 08.10.2015 Speckled Wood Bees - Honey and small Bumbles - feeding on hedge Ivy (so many the noise audible 10 metres away) THEDDLETHORPE ST HELEN TF 489888 Ray Woodcock 10/10/2015 10 October at 1545 hrs at GR 489888 I came across a dead fox washed up on the intertidal zone on the beach at Theddlethorpe St Helen. I deduce that it been there since the last tide which would have left it at about 0715 on the morning of 10 October. Photo taken. THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 11/10/15 Blackbird x 7 Black headed Gull x 62 Coot x 2 Dunnock x 1 Golden Plover x 37 Kestrel x 1 Lapwing x 32 Magpie x 3 Moorhen x 4 Mute swan x 2 adults, 4 young Pied Wagtail x 2 Robin x 2 Rook x 16 Starling x 65 Stock Dove x 1 Tree Sparrow x 32 Wood Pigeon x 4 Wren x 1 Rabbit x 3 12/10/15 Blackbird x 4 Black Headed Gull x 59 Blue Tit x 2 Common Buzzard x 2 Dunnock x 1 Golden Plover x 420 circling over Thurnholmes and surrounding fields Kestrel x 1 Lapwing x 21 Linnet x 5 Pink-footed Goose x 350 flying north over Thurnholmes Starling x 85 Stock Dove x 1 Tree Sparrow x 34 Wood Pigeon x 4 Leopard Slug x 7 under plastic sheeting 13/10/15 Chaffinch x 35 Owston Ferry Drain side Goldfinch x 7 Lesser Black backed Gull x 4 14/10/15 Grey Wagtail x 1 flying west over Thurnholmes calling 15/10/15 Pied Wagtail x 17 feeding in fields at side of Thurnholmes WATERS EDGE Waters Edge, Barton upon Humber (Grid Ref TA0323)* 12/10/2015 Jon & Louise Drakes During a quick stop off for refreshments en route home from Far Ings NR we noted the following species: Black-Headed Gull Canada Goose Carrion Crow Coot Curlew Goldfinch Great Blackback Gull Grey Heron Herring Gull House Sparrow Lesser Blackback Gull Mallard Tufted Duck WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. R & A Parsons 9/10/2015 Hummingbird Hawkmoth 6.00pm. 11/10/2015 Flock of est 300 lapwing in area 8am. WILLOUGHTON SK 9313 9319 Peter Morrell 10.10.15 Final housemartins fledge and leave. WILLOWTREE FEN 11th October 2015 E.J. Redshaw The Walking with Wildlife (a walk on the slow side) meeting, looking at molluscs in the old farmyard area produced the following species: Borehole Ponds: Bithynia tentaculata, Bithynia leachii, Physa fontinalis, Anisus vortex, Gyraulus albus, Radix balthica, Sphaerium corneum, Sphaerium lacustre & Pisidium casertanum. Dyke & dykeside: Physa fontinalis, Radix balthica, Lymnaea palustris agg. (probably L. fuscus), and the slugs Deroceras leave and Arion intermedius. Woodland: Arianta arbustorum, Cornu aspersum, Cepaea nemoralis, Cepaea. hortensis, Trochulus striolata, and the slugs Arion distinctus, Deroceras reticulatum, Limax maximus and Tandonia budapestensis. Usually obvious species which were not found were Arion ater, Monacha cantiana and Succinea elegans. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. Lincolnshire Coast NNRs and S Lincs Highlights including RSPB Wash Reserves RSPB Reserves: http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/collections/thewash_northnorfolk.aspx http://www.rspb.org.uk www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh LWT Reserves: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves Reports always welcome. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GIBRALTAR POINT NNR. See: Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog. http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ GIBRALTAR POINT NNR TF556 582 11 October 2015 Brian Hedley Annual LNU Fungi Foray led by Ray Halstead and attended by 26 people on a cool but bright autumn afternoon. A restricted range of fungi were noted but did include excellent displays of collared earth-star Geastrum triplex next to paths. Other species included snowy inkcap Coprinus niveus which grows on animal dung and the bracket fungus Fomitiporia hippophaeicola which only grows on sea buckthorn. As to be hoped for, a very good selection of birds were seen (at least 60 species) with the added bonus of 'fall' conditions which meant that almost every sycamore held several calling goldcrests plus species such as redwings, fieldfares, ring ouzels and bramblings were much in evidence. Several rarities were also present around the reserve on the day including a rustic bunting, yellow-browed warblers and a great grey shrike but none were knowingly seen by anyone in our group. Colin Smith had a good session recorded insects, especially the leaf mines of various micro-moths (at least 23 species) including Stigmella viscerella which feeds on elm. He also recorded various beetles and plant bugs including Rhopalus parumpunctatus which may be a new county record. Other insects included Roesel's bush-cricket, migrant hawker, ruddy darter, red admiral, speckled wood and a caterpillar of the clouded magpie moth. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE DUNES NNR. http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/38015?category=59026 and DONNA NOOK http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/nature-reserves/donna-nook/viewing-seals-donna-nook ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE NNR. WILDLIFE NEWS Week ending 15 September 2015 Cliff Morrison, Peter & Janet Roworth, Nige Lound, & John Walker Birds 7th 3 whooper swan flying south. 2 ring ousel, Pallas's warbler and a grey wagtail. Hundreds of goldcrest on reserve and 2 firecrest and a Lapland bunting. 9th Immature whooper swan flying south at Rimac. Grey wagtail, 10 redpoll, 3 tree sparrows, 2 stonechat & 3 buzzards. Eleven skeins of pink-footed geese flying south, totalling about 330 birds. 11th Estimated 800 goldcrest. 2 firecrest, 2 short-eared owl, 1 long- eared owl, 1 hen harrier, 1 Lapland bunting, 2 yellow-browed warbler, 1 blackcap, 6 brambling and 6 tree sparrow. 128 carrion crow & 174 jackdaw. More skeins of pink-footed geese 13th Sea watch from Crook Bank produced 59 guillemot, 46 gannet, 3 eider, 2 great skua, 3 Pomarine skua and an adult Sabine's gull. 14th Sea watch from Brickyard produced 1 Pomarine skua, 1 red-throated diver, 24 gannet & 5 guillemot. 15th c.130 pink footed geese roosting on sea before flying south Insects Late butterflies seen were 2 commas, 2 small tortoiseshells, 4 red admiral, 3 speckled wood, 1 large white and 1 peacock. A few common darters and 10 migrant hawker the only dragonflies seen. Donna Nook - no seals to report in the viewing area. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. FAR INGS NNR See: Far Ings NNR on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-Of-Far-Ings-National-Nature-Reserve/186876774685595 Far Ings NR (Grid Ref TA0123)* 12/10/2015 Jon & Louise Drakes A walk around the reserve by my wife and my self on a beautifully bright morning found the following: Blackbird 2 Blue Tit 3 Buzzard 1 Canada Goose 20 Coot 45 Cormorant 4 Curlew 1 Feral Pigeon Gadwall 44 Great Tit 2 Grey Heron 1 Grey Plover 5 House Sparrow Kestrel 1 Lapwing 65 Longtail Tit 9 Magpie 2 Moorhen 1 Mute Swan 8 Pink-footed Goose approx 200 Pochard 1 Redshank 2 Robin 2 Teal 17 Tufted Duck 10 Wigeon 39 Woodpigeon 5 A fellow bird watcher informed us that a Bittern had been seen on Ness Pit (just before our arrival in at the Ness Hide), however, it remained hidden for the duration of our stay in the hide. The reported Snow Bunting also eluded us! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. Bardney Limewoods NNR http://microsites.lincolnshire.gov.uk/limewoods/publications/limewoods-walks/ Reports always welcome. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The NNR includes the following sites: Chambers Farm Wood (please detail specific area when reporting e.g. Ivy Wood, Little Scrubbs Meadow etc.); College Wood, Cocklode & Great West Woods, Hardy Gang Wood, Newball Wood, Scotgrove Wood, Southrey Wood, Wickenby Wood. Other woods included in the NNR but without public access: Stainfield Wood; Stainton & Fulnetby Woods (access by public bridle way only) Adrian Royle's superb Flickr photo-site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/adiroyle/collections/72157624803742908/ Colin Green has produced the following video about visiting Southrey Wood in Oct 2012. Well worth a look. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1SpBvd9Ib0 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7. Sending in reports to Roger Parsons ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The purpose of the Bulletin is to encourage biological recording in Lincolnshire using modern Information and Communication Technology. We hope to increase the number of people reporting observations to LNU Recorders and improve the quality of reports, as well as the quantity and the geographical coverage. In return for this FREE service, we ask you to provide reports, questions, news or relevant articles from time to time. Descriptive pieces are welcome - you don't have to stick to lists! Mailing times vary, depending on what I am doing. The Bulletin usually 'goes to bed' on Fridays. Please e-mail in contributions as early as possible to ensure they are included, to: rparsons@enterprise.net [A backup e-mail address you can use if ever you experience problems with my "Enterprise" address is: aintree2@yahoo.co.uk ] When sending in reports please follow this layout to save re-editing: Place Name: IN CAPITALS with Grid Reference if you have it. Your Name: Real names please, not aliases. Put it in each time, for each location Date: Species list [Alphabetical?] & numbers [and observations?] e.g. Blackbird - 24 [And please, no home-grown abbreviations. Species Names in full.] *** Find the Grid Reference *** Chris Manning recommended the following websites to help find grid references. Grab a Grid Reference http://www.bnhs.co.uk/focuson/grabagridref/html/index.htm UK Grid Reference Finder: http://www.gridreferencefinder.com/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8. Contact Information & Useful Websites ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please let me know ASAP if any of these weblinks fail! *** Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Website *** A full list of LNU Country Recorders is given here. http://www.lnu.org/ LNU e-mail: info@lnu.org If you are not yet a member, the LNU needs good naturalists like you! Anyone interested can get membership application forms from Wilma Gammon at the Lincs Wildlife Trust office, e-mail wgammon@lincstrust.co.uk LNU publications [listed on LNU website] may be ordered via: Ian Macalpine-Leny http://lnu.org/publications.php ian@macalpine-leny.co.uk *** Contacts List *** No hotlinks in this section, just copy and paste URLs, please. FIGHTING WILDLIFE CRIME *** Rural Crime Officer *** Pc 160 Nick Willey Force Wildlife, Rural Crime Officer Force Dog Training Establishment Lincolnshire Showground. Grange-De-Lings. Lincoln nicholas.willey@lincs.pnn.police.uk OFFICE: 01522-731897 MOBILE :07768-501895 PAGER : 07654-330877 Website: http://www.lincs.police.uk/Advice/Wildlife-and-Rural-Crime/ *** National Rural Crime Network *** Call for case studies as new website to tackle rural crime is launched. http://www.lincs.police.uk/Advice/Wildlife-and-Rural-Crime/National-Rural-Crime-Network.html See: http://www.nationalruralcrimenetwork.net/ STAYING SAFE No hotlinks in this section, just copy and paste URLs, please. *** EasyTide *** Check tide times on Admiralty EasyTide: http://easytide.ukho.gov.uk/EasyTide/EasyTide/index.aspx *** Local Tide Tables *** Here is a useful-looking website where you can order local tide tables. Well worth bookmarking. Everyone who uses the coast ought to have local tide tables handy. £1.50 + p&p. https://www.tidetimes.org.uk/ *** TWO - The Weather Outlook *** Check the weather forecast for the location or postcode: http://www.theweatheroutlook.com/ *** Met Office E-mail Service *** Be warned of the possibility of severe weather. The Met Office website now offers an e-mail notification service for severe weather and other matters which may interest readers. Worth having a look and signing up. See: http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/guide-to-emails *** Environment Agency Flood Information/Floodline *** http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/default.aspx *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/ Care of Sick or Injured Animals - information on LWT website *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/sick-and-injured-animals SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING No hotlinks in this section, just copy and paste URLs, please. *** iSpot Keys for computer or mobile *** If you are a beginner to identification of species, you might find the following link useful. http://www.ispot.org.uk/keys The LNU is now represented on the popular iSpot website. A full list of the organisations, recording schemes and societies represented is here: http://www.ispot.org.uk/representatives *** What's That Butterfly? *** http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/index.php http://butterfly-conservation.org/ What's That Caterpillar? http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/species_family.php?name=all&stage=larva *** Identifying Dragonflies *** http://www.british-dragonflies.org.uk/content/uk-species http://www.british-dragonflies.org.uk/content/dragonfly-and-damselfly-identification-help *** Spiders *** Imogen Wilde writes: Regional Co-ordinator (RC) and Mentor for Lincolnshire for the British Arachnological Society (BAS). I will be organising a few field meetings to hunt for spiders and other arachnids in due course, but if any LNU members wish to get in touch in the meantime then please contact me on my e-mail address: Imogen@imogenwilde.co.uk *** Lincs Amphibian and Reptile Group *** The Lincolnshire ARG (Amphibian & Reptile Group) For further details please contact: Ashley Butterfield learningoutdoors@btinternet.com or tel 07864967057 Ashley Butterfield, LNU Reptile and Amphibian Recorder, adds: The recordpool is a joint ARGUK and ARC Trust project that aims to collect herpetofauna data from the uk that might not otherwise be recorded and make it available for conservation purposes. As such you will have access to your own records at full resolution and other records at a lower resolution. You can input reptile and amphibian data at: http://www.recordpool.org.uk/ Please remember, common species are just as important as rarer species, so please give it a go. Please contact Dr Angela Julian ARGUK with any specific questions. angela.digges@clara.co.uk *** Local Bat Helpline *** Grounded bats, bat problems, advice and information. Contact Annette and Colin Faulkner on 01775 766286 or e-mail: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com *** Bat Recorder *** You may send confidential bat records direct to Annette Faulkner on: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com *** LNU Bees, Wasps and Ants Recorder *** Alan Phillips Willing to examine specimens or check photos (but bear in mind only a relative few of the 300+ species in the county are identifiable using photos). Aculeates only please, no parasitic wasps such as Ichneumons. If in doubt please contact for advice: aculeates@gmail.com *** How to Identify Bees *** BWARS - Bees Wasps & Ants Recording Society http://www.bwars.com/ Bumblebee Conservation Trust http://bumblebeeconservation.org/ *** Good sources of seeds of Bee-friendly Wild Flowers *** Mark Schofield writes: Always consider the provenance and sustainable sourcing of seed. Plantlife and Flora locale have defined protocols that can guide the conservation-minded shopper. Bee-friendly gardeners should refer to their A-Z suppliers list which can be found here: www.floralocale.org/Alphabetical+supplier+listing Advice: www.wildlifetrusts.org/Bees-needs/growmore bumblebeeconservation.org/get-involved/managing-your-land/wildflower-seed/ *** Mammal Records *** Mammal records can reported to Chris Manning E-mail: Chris.LincsDeer@gmail.com Mink/Otter reports are of interest and can be sent via the Bulletin. *** Slug ID Help *** Chris du Feu will help with slug identification. You can telephone him on: 01427 848400 or e-mail: chris@chrisdufeu.force9.co.uk *** Identification of Non-Marine Molluscs *** John Redshaw is still available to identify specimens of non- marine shelled molluscs, including brackish marsh species. For larger and medium sized species (down to 1cm) a digital image will usually suffice. For smaller species it may be possible, in some cases, to ID specimens from digital images, but usually actual specimens will be required. If providing specimens, they may be enclosed in old film pots (which photographic shops are usually glad to get rid of). Details of location where specimen found, (with grid reference if known), date and finder's name should be provided. If specimen is provided this information should be noted on a label stuck to the outside of the pot. Please be aware that it is illegal to send live specimens through the post. For further details please contact John by e-mail on ejohnredshaw@gmail.com *** Mollusc Identification *** David Feld has also kindly offered to assist readers to identify molluscs, both terrestrial and aquatic. Please e-mail him a description and he will advise you whether and where to send a photograph or an actual specimen. Contact: drf@dfeld.freeserve.co.uk *** Lincolnshire Badger Group Update *** Ally Townsend of the Weirfield Wildlife Hospital, writes: If you would like to give people the Lincoln number 01522 530428 a member of staff will record the sighting or RTA. Or use the Weirfield website: http://www.weirfield.co.uk/ where a reporting page can be used to send in badger reports. USEFUL WILDLIFE CONTACTS *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/ *** Lincs Environmental Records Centre *** Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership (of which LERC is a part) Contact: Charlie Barnes, charlie.barnes@glnp.org.uk or for more general queries: info@glnp.org.uk Website: http://www.gnlp.org.uk *** Life on the Verge and Wildflower Meadow Network Project *** Aidan Neary, Wildflower Meadow Project Officer, aneary@lincstrust.co.uk Mobile: 07825 970930, Switchboard: 01507 526667. To find out more and to become involved with the survey and management of Lincolnshire's limestone grassland on road verges see: See: http://www.lifeontheverge.org.uk/ *** Lincs Bird Club *** LBC County Bird Recorders John Clarkson - Covering the north of the county recorder_north@lincsbirdclub.co.uk John Badley - Covering the south of the county recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk Bird Club Website: http://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk *** The Sir Joseph Banks Society *** Contact 01507 528223 or by e-mail: enquiries@joseph-banks.org.uk. http://www.joseph-banks.org.uk *** Other Useful Websites/contacts *** No hotlinks in this section, just copy and paste URLs, please. Suggestions for other useful Websites are welcome. *** Natural England *** http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ *** Lincolnshire Environmental Awards *** http://www.lincsenvironmentalawards.org.uk/ *** The Lincolnshire Coastal Grazing Marshes Project (LCGMP) *** The Lincolnshire Coastal Grazing Marshes project produced two films of the Lincolnshire Coastal Grazing Marshes. They are based on Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) which measures topography accurately. The films reveal many historical and geomorphological features that are not always obvious to the eye. Note that the vertical perspective is exaggerated to enhance the features. Narrated by Jim Broadbent. Watch them here: Southern marshes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwhVamd4j6E Northern marshes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZjqzcMFXi8 *** Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service *** A dedicated service to protect and enhance the Lincolnshire Wolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). 01507 609740 http://www.lincswolds.org.uk *** Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project *** Project Officer: Ruth Craig http://www.lincswolds.org.uk/chalk-streams/volunteering or contact the project officer ruth.craig@lincolnshire.gov.uk *** The South Lincolnshire Fenlands Partnership *** http://www.lincsfenlands.org.uk/ Contact: slincsfens@lincstrust.co.uk Amanda Jenkins - South Lincolnshire Fenlands Project Officer *** RSPB local webpages *** http://www.rspb.org.uk www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh John Badley, Site Manager for RSPB Lincolnshire Wash reserves e-mail: john.badley@rspb.org.uk S Lincs RSPB http://www.southlincsrspb.org.uk Lincoln RSPB http://www.lincolnrspb.org.uk/ *** Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire link *** http://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html *** Lincsbirders *** Lincolnshire's Alternative Birding Group http://www.lincsbirders.org/ Lincolnshire Limewoods Project Bardney Limewoods NNR http://microsites.lincolnshire.gov.uk/Limewoods/ limewoods@lincolnshire.gov.uk Botanical Group in South Lincs Sarah Lambert writes: We'd be happy to welcome new people, whether experienced or not, particularly if they are located towards the northern part of the vice county! sarah.lambert7@ntlworld.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9. Notes about these wildlife reports ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We do our best to ensure accuracy in our reporting but these records are sent in by a variety of reporters, from complete beginners to professionals. They therefore vary in reliability and in some cases they are impossible to verify. If further information is needed on locations or reporters, or if you wish to question/confirm any of these records, contact: rparsons@enterprise.net Bulletins are sent to Recorders at Lincolnshire Environmental Records Centre [GNLP] , Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union and Lincolnshire Bird Club. [Note: Where plants are reported, this is usually because they have been seen and identified in flower.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10. The Bulletin's publicity policy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We sometimes withhold precise details of rare or endangered species. Please point out any sensitive or "tricky" reports of this kind. Sensitive data should go directly to county recorders, please. Please respect the interests of wildlife and site owners if you report on national networks. An interest in wildlife is not a licence to act irresponsibly/thoughtlessly to landowners, who may well be partners in important conservation work. [Remember - views expressed in the Bulletin do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions on the LNU or associated organisations. In particular this applies to such agencies, especially charities, taking a political stance.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 11. LNU Events Diary For LNU meetings also see http://www.lnu.org/events.php ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Field Meetings generally start at 12 noon for 1.00pm, but please check the website details for each event. Unless otherwise stated, Indoor Meetings are held on Saturdays at the Whisby Education Centre, Whisby Nature Park, Moor Lane, Thorpe on the Hill, Lincoln and start at 2pm. 2015 Indoor meetings - details awaited. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails This Week *** If your Bulletin did not arrive, text copies of past Bulletins can be found on: http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html Latest Mailfails. None this week. Contributions to "And finally......" are always welcome. Rescued seal released after cow encounter http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-34515670 Yorkshire's extinct rhinos revealed http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-34486757 Digitising Yorkshire's savannah past http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-34486763 More tilt than Pisa tower could boost Dry Doddington visits http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-34504739 Geological Society photo winners - with great typo! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-34469142 Whales bask in Northern Lights http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/video_and_audio/must_see/34462536 Coral worldwide threatened by bleaching http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-34473371 What is worth more: dung beetles or diamonds? http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20151008-costing-the-earth WW2 veterans medals found after week-long search http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-3448912 Landmark show for fire-hit Lancaster bomber http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-34483763 Vulcan XH558: Final flypast over East Midlands http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-34495905 Why we love conkers and horse-chestnut trees http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20151008-why-we-love-conkers-and-horse-chestnut-tree ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/